WJC: 2025 Team USA Roster Talk

[William H Bonney]

Time to start the discussion on the next iteration of the best hockey tournament every year.

We'll have 11(!) players eligible to return, 9 if you don't count the spares with the team. That's a pretty good building block.

Players eligible to return are Augustine (G), Hillebrandt (G), Fortescue (D), Minnetian (D), Buium (D), Smith (F), Leonard (F), Terrance (F), Moore (F), Nelson (F), Perreault (F).

I'll put together some early camp lists and roster predictions shortly.

Click to read more...

 

[MTU34]

Let’s enjoy this one a bit first lmao

 

[Jaykay]

Was just working on this this morning:

Gabe Perreault-Will Smith-Ryan Leonard
Cole Eiserman-James Hagens-Quentin Musty
Trevor Connelly-Oliver Moore-Will Whitelaw
Carey Terrance-Danny Nelson-Tanner Adams
Ex. Christian Humphries, Kamil Bednarek

Others: Austin Burnevik, Beckett Hendrickson, Max Plante, Teddy Stiga, Brodie Ziemer, Joseph Willis, Jayson Shaugabay, William Moore, Will Vote, Chris Pelosi

Zeev Buium-Aram Minnetian
Drew Fortescue-Logan Hensler
Paul Fischer-Gavin McCarthy
Ex. Cole Hutson, Andrew Strathmann

Others: EJ Emery, Will Skahan, Charlie Trethewey, Matthew Mania, Brady Cleveland, Zach Schulz

Trey Augustine
Hampton Slukynsky
Sam Hillebrandt
Nick Kempf

Forward group is not quite as loaded but the BC line could be the best in the tournament if Smith is back.

The D group doesn't have as many dangerous offensive guys but they should be solid defensively. Weirdly, there's a shortage of RHD in this group after having a shortage of LHD this year.

Augustine should be the best goalie in the tournament. Not sure if they're the gold medal favorite again but definitely a strong contender to go back to back.

 

[William H Bonney]

Let’s enjoy this one a bit first lmao

Why not enjoy both?

 

[Rob]

Well the TSN commentators are already picking them as early favorites for 2025.

Any of the players with a chance to make the NHL next season?

 

[Jaykay]

Well the TSN commentators are already picking them as early favorites for 2025.

Any of the players with a chance to make the NHL next season?

Smith is the biggest risk but I don't think he will. Leonard I guess could too but that would surprise me.

 

[WarriorofTime]

They won't be able to sustain a Will Smith graduation the way this year could withstand a Logan Cooley graduation because they won't be quite as loaded up front, but if the BC Line all returns, it should run havoc and the top six will still be insanely stacked.

 

[TLEH]

I don't think Will Smith is playing NHL hockey next year. I don't think Leonard is either.

 

[William H Bonney]

Well the TSN commentators are already picking them as early favorites for 2025.

Any of the players with a chance to make the NHL next season?

Smith and Leonard should be the biggest flight risks. I think they'd both benefit from one more year of NCAA development as they certainly have things they can improve on and doing so would help them step in and contribute right away in the NHL.

But unless something goes off the rails for them in the next 6 months, they could both probably play in the NHL next year nonetheless. Far less talented and developed players have been in the NHL while still WJC eligible. And their NHL teams need all the help they can get.

 

[TLEH]

I would imagine the SJ Sharks are in no rush. I still think they still could do a bit more dominating at the college level tbh.

 

[WarriorofTime]

I would imagine the SJ Sharks are in no rush. I still think they still could do a bit more dominating at the college level tbh.

True, not like either is going to win the Hobey Baker or anything. No offense to any BC fans, but would be nice if they could get upset pre-Frozen Four so they decide they have "unfinished business".

You can also burn a year of ELC by waiting and signing after your college year when you're 19, so it's not a huge deal to just wait. You just become the sort of RFA that can't be given an offer sheet (which rarely happens regardless).

 

[William H Bonney]

One of the advantages the US has at this tournament is the fact that nearly all of our players play NCAA hockey. If more of the best Americans were going to the CHL, we'd be losing more guys to the NHL each tournament because they'd be trying to make their NHL teams.

If guys like Poitras (before he was released), Benson, Korchinski, etc. were in college instead of the CHL, they would have been available for Canada because they wouldn't have even had the chance to make their NHL teams.

We usually only lose our sure-thing advanced players who are willing to leave college quickly because they're basically guaranteed a good role in the NHL.

 

[TLEH]

One of the advantages the US has at this tournament is the fact that nearly all of our players play NCAA hockey. If more of the best Americans were going to the CHL, we'd be losing more guys to the NHL each tournament because they'd be trying to make their NHL teams.

If guys like Poitras (before he was released), Benson, Korchinski, etc. were in college instead of the CHL, they would have been available for Canada because they wouldn't have even had the chance to make their NHL teams.

We usually only lose our sure-thing advanced players who are willing to leave college quickly because they're basically guaranteed a good role in the NHL.

Yep. Said as much. The CHL-NHL agreement is really only hurting the Canadians at this point. Korchinski would have played AHL this year to keep him away from the nightmare in Chicago.

 

[MTU34]

Why not enjoy both?

Fine I’ll oblige

Perreault-Smith-Leonard
Moore-Hagens-Connelly
Eiserman-Nelson-Musty
Whitelaw-Terrance-Adams
Stiga (Hendrickson)

Fortescue-Buium
Fischer-Minnetian
Skahan-Hensler
Hutson (Mccarthy)

Augustine
Slukynsky/Kempf
Hillebrandt

 

[William H Bonney]

Fine I’ll oblige

Perreault-Smith-Leonard
Moore-Hagens-Connelly
Eiserman-Nelson-Musty
Whitelaw-Terrance-Adams
Stiga (Hendrickson)

Fortescue-Buium
Fischer-Minnetian
Skahan-Hensler
Hutson (Mccarthy)

Augustine
Slukynsky/Kempf
Hillebrandt

Thank you for playing along : )

 

[TLEH]

2025 isn't as strong as this year but should still be able to compete for Gold.

 

[Juxtaposer]

The D looks pretty rough, but the forward group will be just as good as this year if the whole BC line comes back (and they should).

 

[WarriorofTime]

One of the advantages the US has at this tournament is the fact that nearly all of our players play NCAA hockey. If more of the best Americans were going to the CHL, we'd be losing more guys to the NHL each tournament because they'd be trying to make their NHL teams.

If guys like Poitras (before he was released), Benson, Korchinski, etc. were in college instead of the CHL, they would have been available for Canada because they wouldn't have even had the chance to make their NHL teams.

We usually only lose our sure-thing advanced players who are willing to leave college quickly because they're basically guaranteed a good role in the NHL.

I was just thinking the same thing, CHL player sign contracts and go to training camp and if they do well and there's a spot open with whatever else is going on, they get an extended tryout which could carry into the whole season. Guys like Smith would have a good shot of getting kept up, but NCAA players sign pro deals or don't, that's not really on the table and they usually only sign if they're sure they will make the NHL (and not be sent to the AHL) and the NHL team is in some sort of rush to get them in.

 

[clydesdale line]

Next year's squad will be very strong again. I don't know if they'll go undefeated like the current gold medal team did, but they'll be very strong. #repeat

 

[The Crypto Guy]

That BC line is going to f***ing scary next year. They basically won the US the gold this year with their gold medal game. Can't imagine them next year being a year older and stronger.

 

[MTU34]

We’re in the same group as Canada next year right? Should finally get another New Year’s Eve game. It has to have been close to 10 years since the last one

 

[WarriorofTime]

I think all the NTDP 05s that played on this year’s team are all locks unless they really play their way off in the next eleven months like Stramel. I would imagine the injury replacements from this year will make it too. Hagens and Eiserman should be locks from the 06 NTDP group and Musty from outside the USNDTP pipeline (although you can never be too sure with USA Hockey on that one.)

That eats up a lot of forward spots barring injury, turning pro etc. so the last few can battle it out over summer and start of next season. Defense has a lot more spots up for grabs and hopefully Augustine’s backups won’t matter.

 

[William H Bonney]

Very early WJSS camp roster prediction. A lot will change as the next 4+ months are so critical for the U18 guys to mark their mark for the team and determine whether they're playing college next season or running it back in the USHL (which largely will disqualify them from contention). There should be another deep forward group, a lot of opportunities on defense, and goalies competing to back up Augustine. * denotes 2024 returnees.

​

Forward (x24):​

Tanner Adams
Kamil Bednarik
Trevor Connelly
Joe Connor
Cole Eiserman
James Hagens
Beckett Hendrickson
Christian Humphreys
Ryan Leonard*
Oliver Moore*
Quentin Musty
Danny Nelson*
Chris Pelosi
Gabe Perreault*
Max Plante
James Reeder
Will Smith*
Teddy Stiga
Brandon Svoboda
Mac Swanson
Carey Terrance*
Lucas Van Vliet
Will Whitelaw
Will Zellers​

Defenseman (x16):​

Zeev Buium*
Brady Cleveland
EJ Emery
Logan Hensler
Cole Hutson
Will Felicio
Paul Fischer
Drew Fortescue*
Owen Keefe
Matthew Mania
Gavin McCarthy
Aram Minnetian*
Tory Pitner
Zach Schulz
Will Skahan
Andrew Strathmann​

Goalies (x5):​

Trey Augustine*
Sam Hillebrandt*
Nick Kempf
Carson Musser
Hampton Slukynsky
​

 

[SK94]

Augustine
Slukynsky
Hillebrandt

Fortescue-Minnetian
Buium-Hensler
Hutson-Fischer
Cleveland/Emery/Schultz

Perreault-Smith-Leonard
Musty-Hagens-Eiserman
Moore-Nelson-Connelly
Whitelaw-Terrance-Adams
Hendrickson

 

[awfulwaffle]

Let’s enjoy this one a bit first lmao

My man had this post saved and ready to post since last year!